MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Blubaugh to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.

The transaction comes one day after Blubaugh picked up his first major-league victory, allowing two runs over five frames against the Marlins in a bulk-relief appearance. Blubaugh will rejoin the rotation at Sugar Land and could get another opportunity in the big leagues later this season if the Astros need a starter.

The Astros activated Arrighetti (thumb) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Miami.

The right-hander wound up missing almost exactly four months after suffering a fractured right thumb back in early April. Prior to being activated, Arrighetti held a 5.73 ERA and 11:5 K:BB in 11 innings over three rehab starts between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. He threw 79 pitches in his final rehab outing with Sugar Land last Thursday, so he'll be in line for a somewhat limited workload Wednesday.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Miley (forearm) will face hitters Friday, Casey Drottar of MLB.com reports.

It will be the first time Miley has faced live hitters since he went down with a left flexor strain in late June. Miley will be eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list Aug. 16, and he could be ready to return then or shortly thereafter. That said, there's no guarantee the Reds will have a role available for Miley at that time.

Tong struck out eight while allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old right-hander has absolutely nothing left to prove in the Eastern League. Tong hasn't served up a home run since late May, and over 53 innings since the beginning of June he sports a 1.02 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 82:20 K:BB. The minor-league strikeout leader with 154 punchouts in 97 innings on the season, Tong should be getting a promotion to Triple-A any day now, especially with the trade of Blade Tidwell to the Giants having opened up a spot in the Syracuse rotation.

Lorenzen (oblique) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings Tuesday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He struck out five.

Lorenzen struggled in his first rehab outing Tuesday, surrendering two home runs -- including one to top prospect Walker Jenkins -- as he works his way back from a left oblique strain. Prior to the injury, the veteran had been serviceable but unspectacular, compiling a 4.61 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 99.2 innings in 18 starts. The Royals' rotation remains unsettled with Kris Bubic (shoulder) out for the year and Cole Ragans (shoulder) also sidelined, leading to the recent additions of Bailey Falter and Ryan Bergert, both of whom have already made their team debuts. Lorenzen's role once he's fully healthy will be an interesting storyline to track.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Wheeler's next start will be pushed back from Friday to Sunday in Texas while the right-hander manages shoulder stiffness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Wheeler felt some stiffness following his most recent start in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Tigers. He was sent for an MRI -- which came back negative -- and the hurler was able to play catch Wednesday. The Phillies don't appear concerned that the shoulder could be a lingering issue for Wheeler, but fantasy managers should nonetheless keep a eye on news pertaining to the 35-year-old leading up to Sunday. Assuming he makes it through his between-starts bullpen session without issue, Wheeler isn't expected to face any restrictions Sunday.

Double-A Chesapeake reinstated Pham (forearm) from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Pham will likely slot back into the Chesapeake rotation in the coming days after he completed a two-start rehab assignment and most recently tossed 3.1 scoreless innings for High-A Aberdeen on Saturday. The right-hander previously turned in a 3.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB across 23.2 innings in five appearances for Chesapeake before landing on the shelf in early May due to forearm inflammation.

Severino (6-11) earned the win Tuesday over the Nationals, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five in six innings.

Severino reeled off his fourth straight win after he picked up just one win over eight starts from June 2 through July 11. He tossed three scoreless and was already staked a nine-run lead in the fourth by the time the Nationals finally pushed a run across. Severino has reached six innings in two of his past three starts after doing so only one time in nine starts prior. He lines up to complete a strong two-start week on the road this weekend against the Orioles.

Peralta (13-5) picked up the win in Tuesday's 7-2 victory over Atlanta, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander racked up 31 called or swinging strikes among his 108 pitches (63 total strikes) in a typically dominant, if not exactly efficient, performance. Peralta could push himself into NL Cy Young contention with a strong finish to the season -- his 13 wins are tied for the major-league lead with Garrett Crochet, and Peralta boasts top-10 marks in the Senior Circuit in ERA (3.03), WHIP (1.14) and strikeouts (141). His chances of collecting win No. 14 look good in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Pirates.

Holmes didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

The six strikeouts were the most for Holmes in nearly two months, matching his total from a June 7 win over the Rockies. That was also the last time the right-hander completed six innings, and he's been held under 80 pitches in his last two outings as the Mets try to find ways to limit the converted reliever's workload down the stretch. Since the beginning of July, Holmes has stumbled to a 4.72 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 22:12 K:BB through 34.1 innings. He'll look to build on Tuesday's performance in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against Atlanta.